An Investigation into the Ability of Elderly Patients Continuing to Take Prescribed Drugs after Discharge from Hospital and Recommendations Concerning Improving the Situation

Abstract

An investigation was made by an Occupational Therapist into the problems encountered by 50 elderly patients in the self-administration of drugs prior to discharge home. The questions asked the patients are enumerated and recommendations are made concerning how improvements can take place so that many more of the elderly will take the prescribed drugs in the right doses at the right time on discharge home.

Adherence and Medication Instructions Review and Recommendations

“…One 21 year‐long longitudinal study found declines of 10–38% on intelligence test scores 10 . Visual acuity declines with age 11 . A variety of memory functions also decline with age 12,13 .…”

“…First, the visual‐graphic format has an obvious advantage for people with visual or educational problems that reduce their ability to read. This kind of format may be especially helpful for elders because of generally lower education and reduced visual acuity 11,31 . Second, studies of people with normal eyesight and average education show that instructions with visual‐graphic as well as text formats are frequently more effective than instructions with written text only.…”

“…Many instructions are typed in 10 point font size so they can fit on small container labels. This font size is not optimal for most readers, 45 but is especially inappropriate for elders because of visual acuity problems 11,31 . One study found that 55% of those interviewed could not read the print on their medication containers 78 .…”

Appropriate use of drugs by elderly people

“…Some patients may require multiple drug therapy in which case combined drug preparations or slow release formulations may be more easy to manage (Parkin et al 1976, Williams 1979. The size and shape of many drugs may make them difficult for some elderly patients to take (Law & Chalmers 1976), and their taste and colour will also affect compliance (Atkinson 1978). The aim is to make the drug regimen as acceptable and simple as possible, taking such factors into account.…”